Asteroids (video game)

Lore & Background

Asteroids was conceived by Lyle Rains and programmed by Ed Logg, using hardware developed by Howard Delman that was previously used for Lunar Lander. The game was inspired by Spacewar! and Computer Space, and its origin is tied to a prototype called 'Asteroids' or 'Space Rocks'. The physics model, control scheme, and gameplay elements were derived from these earlier titles. The game is rendered on a vector display in a two-dimensional view that wraps around both screen axes. The player controls a triangular ship that can rotate, fire, thrust, and enter hyperspace. Each level starts with large asteroids that break into smaller, faster pieces when shot. Flying saucers appear periodically, with the small saucer firing accurately at the player. A notable exploit allowed players to 'lurk' near the screen edge opposite a saucer, shooting across the boundary to accumulate points indefinitely. Atari later issued a revised ROM (rev 2) that patched this exploit.

Reader's Guide

It proved popular with players and influential with developers, directly affecting games such as Defender and Gravitar. The game's vector graphics, physics-based movement, and wrap-around screen became hallmarks of the era. Its success prompted Atari to refine its testing procedures after the lurking exploit caused revenue loss for arcade operators. Asteroids remains a touchstone of early video game design, demonstrating how simple mechanics and precise controls could create enduring appeal.

Did You Know?

• Asteroids was inspired by Spacewar! and Computer Space, and its origin is tied to a prototype called 'Asteroids' or 'Space Rocks'.
• The game slows down when the player collects 50–100 lives because the code continues trying to draw them even off-screen.
• Saucers cannot aim across a screen boundary, enabling a 'lurking' exploit, though Atari later released a revised ROM (rev 2) to patch it.